#3 Mars family

2016 America's Richest Families NET WORTH

$78B

as of 6/29/16

The Mars siblings, Jacqueline (pictured above) and John, and the heirs of their brother Forrest Jr. (who died in July 2016), own Mars Inc., one of the world's largest and most secretive candy companies, with $33 billion in sales. The siblings, who have no daily role, inherited the company in 1999 when their father Forrest Sr. died. Their grandfather Frank began selling candy from his Tacoma, Washington kitchen in 1911. Their father joined the company in 1929, around the same time the company invented the malt-flavored nougat that became the basis of Milky Way and Snickers. Later the company invented M&Ms, over 400 million of which are produced in the U.S. each day. Mars also makes Uncle Ben's rice and owns pet food brands Pedigree and Whiskas. In March 2016, Mars announced it endorses limitations on added sugar in its products and supports U.S. government efforts to include added sugars in food labeling. Jacqueline is a trustee of the U.S. Equestrian Team and sits on the board of directors of the National Sporting Library and Fine Art Museum. Her son, Stephen Badger, serves on the Mars Inc. board of directors. Victoria Mars, the eldest daughter of the late Forrest Jr., is chairman of the board of directors of Mars Inc.

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